The National Rally Championship Dunlop 2009
The first rally - Tess Rally - Brasov 13-15 March 2009

The rally in Brasov has come this year to its 38th edition, the rally being run since 1970 with the only break in the year 2000.

The organizer of Tess Rally, Mr Bela Stoica has said: "With one month to go before the start we can now say that we are ready to offer to the participants and spectators a national championship level event. It's true that we adopted a "crisis" form to diminish any risk. Therefore, the Tess Rally will have only two days - Saturday and Sunday, shortening the competitors' weekend, who are also confronted with the financial crisis."

The National Championship starts traditionally in Brasov with Tess Rally. The race will contain this year some spectacular stages well enjoyed by both competitors and spectators. The rally starts Saturday with two stages previously run in 2003 and 2006, in the vecinity of Zarnesti city, that will be re-run reversed after regrouping. Again, Mr. Bela Stoica: "I am aware that not all of the drivers like long regroupings and in the initial format we only scheduled one, but unfortunately we had to redraw the itinerary of the first day. I thing the spectators will be glad that they'll be able to see the cars twice without moving."

The day will end with the classic stage, "Poiana" that will be run reversed, together with "Rasnov", like in the last years' edition and with the Superspecial Stage "Magnolia" in Brasov, a presentation show of the competitors.
The last day has only two stages, but two long stages that are famous among drivers, the stage "Babarunca", and the reversed one, "Cheia". "After last years' desaster, when these two stages had to be cancelled, I didn't want to even hear about it initially, but I thought we can't be this unlucky forever and had these two beautiful stages in the rally in the end." said Mr. Stoica.

The recce for Tess Rally will take place on Thursday and Friday morning, while Friday afternoon the shakedown will take place on the road between the villages Satu Nou and Crizbav.


Radu Roman
Auto Blic & Autorally Team